We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.

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Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I was able to meet most of my goals such as to finish building my toilet. I also bought a few household items such as a television. Before then, when my radio failed to work, I would listen to the news from people which could be distorted. I am glad that for the first time I saw people that I could only hear their voice on the radio.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?

My new goal is to cement my kitchen. I am tired of repairing it after every rainy season. It is usually a hectic process that requires a lot of energy and time. The rains usually wash off the outer layer of the wall making it look ugly and unstable. I am glad that I won't experience the hard work of smearing it every time when this goal actualizes because cemented houses are durable.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.

I started building a toilet some time back but due to financial constraints, I was not able to finish it. I used to relieve myself in the bush and also directed my visitors to the same place because I had no option. Lacking a toilet could not give peace with the government officials. Most of the time my children could be arrested because they would be caught messing around. I could feel bad as a parent. Being a single parent, I had a lot of issues to handle that made me not to finish building the toilet. The difference came when I got my money in bulk from the merry-go-round which I had been slotting from my transfers and finished building it. I finally found peace because I know that none of my children will be arrested because of such embarrassing reasons.

How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?

My expectation in the next six months is to cement my kitchen. I am tired of repairing it every now and then. I also fear that if I continue exposing my self to the dust from the mud-walled house, we could get sick. Cemented houses are also easy to clean and maintain compared to the mud-walled houses.

16th Payment

Transfer Amount

2280 KES ($22 USD)

access_time 3 months ago

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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?

My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because l am now staying in a nice plastered house where am more comfortable and not even worried about having chairs. Before I was much worried of dusty because I was thinking that I may be affected.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?

My new goal in the next four months is to start saving and buy a gas cooker. I thinking of buying gas cooker because it is more convenient and cheaper because, it is very fast when cooking and it is also cheaper when I fill it, it will take time before filling it again as compared to buying firewood which I am doing almost daily.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that l managed to save the money and bought plastering materials and plastered my house. I am very proud because many people said that I will not manage to plaster my house using the money I was receiving from GiveDirectly since to them the money was too little. I am now happy because I am now staying in a nice plastered house where I am very comfortable even to sit down on the floor because the floor is very neat as compared to before when the floor was very dusty.

How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?

In the next six months, I expect to have bought a gas cooker and using it comfortably without thinking of buying firewood.

12th Payment

Transfer Amount

2280 KES ($23 USD)

access_time 7 months ago

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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?

Apart from building a toilet which is my biggest happiness, I have a new television in my house. I used to have very many quarrels with my neighbour whenever my children went to watch television in his house. He would accuse my children of many things such as stealing from his house or even making his house dirty. This was really embarrassing to me because I could not stop the children from going to his house no matter how I tried. After putting up a toilet, I went and bought a television on hire purchase which I am still paying for so as to avoid the quarrels with my neighbour. I am glad when my children are from school, they stay in the house and watch. This really gives me a lot of peace.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?

My new goal in the four months is to buy new and modern window panes. The ones I have now are broken and at night we have to cover them with torn sacks to avoid too much cold in the house which would cause us uncomfortable sleep. I would want to have a better future because of GD.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a toilet. I have been always forced to hide from my home whenever I saw the village elder and Government Health officials in the village. There was one time when my son was arrested when he was from school because he was the only one found at home reason being, I did not have a toilet. He was taken to the police station and I had to look for money to rescue him. This was my biggest worry and when I started receiving these transfers, I went to buy iron sheets which I have used in building a new toilet. I am no longer troubled by the Government officials on the same. It was my biggest shame.

How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?

In the next six months, I plan to plaster my house after buying new window panes. I would want to have a comfortable house to live in with my family. During the rains, I have to smear every month which is very tiresome and time-consuming. I would want to use the energy used for smearing to do other important things like farming.

7th Payment

Transfer Amount

2280 KES ($23 USD)

access_time 11 months ago

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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?

My life is now different because I now have a well maintained toilet latrine that I never had before.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?

I have a goal of buying a new tv set and a new solar system that I will use to illuminate my house during the dark hours.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.

I have been able to build a new toilet latrine that I never had before.

How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?

I expect that my life will be different because i will own a new tV set and my kids will not have to be going to the neighborhoods house to watch TV.

Initial Payment

Transfer Amount

455 KES ($5 USD)

access_time over 1 year ago

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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?

My new goal is to complete finishing my house that had stalled for lack of money.It had to wait given that I have a son who I had to pay for his fees then and until now.

How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?

My life is currently different in that I have gotten enough and humble time to look for the next amount of money to pay for the solar lamp as I managed to pay for the services once in lump sum.

How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?

In the next six months,I expect to have saved enough money to start the house finishing that I have always longed for. I know by then I will have a nice,complete house.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.

I have a solar lamp that I am suppose to pay for everyday and when I received my transfer,I paid for it at once. At least for nine days,I have been able to use lighting without having to worry on where to get the money to pay for it. This is the biggest difference in my daily life.

Enrolled

access_time over 1 year ago

What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?

The biggest hardship I am currently facing is paying school fees for my child who is in high school. I am forced to go for loans from group savings that are within the village to sustain him in school whenever he is sent back home, paying back the loan with interest is costly too.

What is the happiest part of your day?

The happiest part of my day is in the evening because this is the time I get to rest after doing household chores and looking after my animals.

What are you planning to spend your transfer on?

I am planning to use the transfers to pay school fees for my child in high school, buy food, furnish my house and to build a kitchen.

What is the achievement you are proudest of?

I managed to buy a piece of land and built a house on it, this has made me so proud. I have struggled alone ever since my husband died to ensure that I have a house alongside other basic needs for my family.